They reached the cliffs at dawn—where the earth split into a jagged chasm, releasing a strange, pulsing hum that vibrated through the rocks like a heartbeat gone wrong.
"This is it," Oregon whispered, eyes sharp. "She's inside."
But as they approached the mouth of the subterranean temple carved into the stone, the ground trembled.
Then the shadows moved.
The first wave hit.
A shriek tore through the air as hundreds—no, thousands—of Lisa's minions swarmed from the cavern's edge.
Twisted creatures of bone, smoke, and shadow, their eyes glowed with stolen power.
They came crawling along walls, leaping from rocks, descending from the sky like vultures drawn to death.
"They were waiting for us," Xander muttered.
"I don't care," Dylan growled.
"Let them come."
Blades were drawn. Claws unsheathed. Magic ignited.
The battle erupted.
Oregon's bow rained down like a meteor shower, piercing enemies in wide arcs.
Vlad's vampiric speed turned him into a crimson blur, too fast for the eye to follow.
Xander fought like something unleashed—every strike fueled by desperation.
Dylan shifted mid-battle, his werewolf form massive, tearing through the darkness like a hurricane.
Above them all, Jade twisted illusions into deadly truth.
Flaming wolves. Fractals of exploding glass. Chains of light that pierced through the hordes.
But Lisa had prepared for this.
A second wave came—and this time, they all stopped cold.
Because standing before them—
Were hundreds of Leightons.
Identical. Same hair. Same voice. Same pleading eyes. All dressed in her cloak. Some cried. Some screamed. Some attacked.
"No," Oregon breathed.
"She's using them to buy time."
"It's a spell of confusion," Jade said, eyes narrowing.
"Clever... and dangerous."
The real Leighton's energy was fading—they could feel it. Time was running out.
They had to push through.
"Find the real one!" Xander shouted, tearing a doppelgänger apart with a snarl.
"She's not among them!" Oregon called. "These are shadows! We go deeper!"
Together, they surged forward, cutting through the illusions.
Vlad's flames consumed them.
Jade's magic unraveled false forms.
Dylan's senses sliced through the lies.
Until finally—they reached the sanctum.
An enormous stone altar stood at the heart of the chamber, etched with glowing crimson runes.
Atop it lay Leighton, bound and unconscious—her skin pale, her aura faint.
And beside her... stood Lisa.
Her eyes were wild. Her hands bloodied. Her lips trembled with power and pain. Blood streamed from her nose and chin, staining her robes.
The ritual circle glowed with unstable energy. Symbols twitched unnaturally across the floor.
Lisa clutched her stomach, staggering.
"I... I don't know what went wrong. I prepared everything perfectly!"
"Leighton! Hang on!" Xander ran to her side.
Jade's eyes widened in horror.
"Lisa—what have you done?!"
Lisa collapsed to her knees. "I was only trying to finish what I started... to correct the mistake I made."
"Mistake?" Oregon turned to Jade.
"You know her?"
Jade's expression turned grim.
"She was the last heir to the Prime Apex. But she failed. Her blood rejected the marks. The prophecy moved on. She's no longer the chosen one."
"I thought I could take her place," Lisa said weakly, coughing.
"I only took a little of her blood—"
"What have you done, witch?!" Vlad snarled, appearing beside Xander.
"She's not responding," Xander said, holding Leighton close.
"Her aura—it's flickering."
"I didn't mean for this!" Lisa sobbed.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this!"
But it was.
Leighton's life force was slipping away.
Then Jade stepped forward, eyes glowing gold.
"She needs the final mark. From me. Now."
The others stepped back.
Vlad gave a solemn nod.
Xander hesitated, torn—but moved aside.
Jade knelt beside her. His touch was gentle as he lifted her limp form into his arms.
"She's barely conscious," Dylan murmured.
"She doesn't need to be," Jade said softly. "The spirit hears even in silence."
He closed his eyes and began to speak in the Old Tongue—words ancient, resonant, and powerful.
Then, in English:
"I, Jadeth Casius Valerius, mark you as we become Gaius and Gaia.
You are blood of my blood, bone of my bone.
I give you this mark, as we become one.
I give you my loyalty and spirit, forever and ever.
I pledge to you, Prime Apex... I shall be a shield for your back."
From his coat, he drew a silver ring—ancient, older than memory.
A relic from his first life, the band etched with shifting vines that shimmered faintly with old magic.
He slipped it onto Leighton's finger with reverence.
Then, gently, he kissed her lips.
With a breath, he bit into his index finger.
His blood dripped freely as he pressed it to the center of her chest—right over her heart.
And then—
The chamber exploded with light.
A blinding white radiance surged from Leighton's body, engulfing them all.
The ground shook. The stone altar cracked. The air rippled with divine force.
Everyone was flung back by the shockwave, thrown to the edges of the sanctum.
And at the centre of it all…
Leighton rose.
Her eyes glowed with molten silver. Her hair lifted in a windless breeze.
Runes danced across her skin like living fire. Power radiated from her in waves.
Every immortal present felt it in their bones—the shift.
The balance restored.
The prophecy fulfilled.
The Prime Apex had risen.